Congregation Darchei Noam, Ramat Hasharon

We are a Reform congregation with a beautiful synagogue located on the border between Ramat Hasharon and Herzliya, just north of Tel Aviv. Under the leadership of Rabbi Dr. Eli Levin, Darchei Noam offers weekly Shabbat services on Friday evenings, as well as holiday celebrations and many other events throughout the year. Our congregation serves an important function in this overwhelmingly non-Orthodox community, attracting hundreds of local residents during the High Holidays and other Jewish holidays.

Ever since Darchei Noam moved into its new home four years ago, the scope of its activities has grown considerably. There are now two or three Bat/Bar Mitzvah celebrations every Shabbat, with families often hosting catered receptions or luncheons on the premises after the ceremony. Darchei Noam has definitely become the congregation of choice for much of the local non-Orthodox population, many of whom are thrilled at the prospect of a personalized, egalitarian Bar Mitzvah service that is traditional yet contemporary.

In addition to welcoming hundreds of guests to Bar/Bat Mitzvahs every week, Darchei Noam is also proud of its congregants – a diverse yet close-knit inter-generational group that welcomes new members and makes everyone feel at home. In recent years, a growing number of young families can be seen attending Shabbat services and other events. Members also bond through social and cultural activities, including picnics and overnight trips throughout Israel.

Jewish Education and Culture

In addition to Bar/Bar Mitzvah classes, Darchei Noam offers courses for adults on a number of subjects related to Jewish Studies and the Bible.

Rabbi Levin also runs a conversion program. Two young women recently completed their conversion process and a third is due to finish soon. Darchei Noam welcomes converts and their partners into the congregation, and they clearly feel at home – remaining involved and active members.

A variety of cultural and social activities – such as concerts and lectures on a wide range of subjects – also draw numerous participants on a regular basis. These events are open to the public and are either free of charge or cost a minimal fee.

History

Congregation Darchei Noam was founded almost 30 years ago, and for the first 25 years it operated part-time out of a local high school auditorium. After 15 years of fighting for a plot of land on which to build a permanent sanctuary, the case finally reached the Israeli Supreme Court, which ruled that Darchei Noam must be allocated land. After that, it took another five years and more hard work until the much-desired Building Permit was finally obtained in March 2006. In June of that year, a very emotional Groundbreaking Ceremony took place in the presence of members and friends of the congregation, as well as representatives from the Reform Movement overseas. Thanks to the generosity of friends in Israel and around the world, the new building was opened just in time for Rosh Hashanah 2013.

Our Rabbi

Dr. Eli Levin is a dentist and continues to work in his clinic part-time.
In recent years, he received B.A. and M.A. degrees in Jewish History from Tel Aviv University. He was ordained in rabbinical studies at Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem.

Visit Us

Service are held every Friday, at 17:30 (winter time) or 18:00 (summer saving time), at our synagogue building in 102, Yavne st., Ramat HaSharon. You are very welcome to join the services.

If you want a bar / bat mitzvah, you should have one. It can be one of the most fulfilling experiences of your adult life

In our synagogue, the bar / bat mitzvah is usually celebrated on the Shabbat closest of the child's twelfth or thirteenth birthday _ but it's never too late to have a bar / bat mitzvah

The young one may conduct a part of the service, read some special prayers, read or chant a section from the Torah portion of the week ( an Aliyah), read or chant the b'rachot for the Torah' and for the haftarah, and deliver a sermon

The Hebrew word Aliyah ( literally " going up" ) is used as a description of being "called up" to read from the Torah

In recent years, growing number of families have chosen to travel to Israel to celebrate their simcha in our synagogue

For bar / bat mitzvah to be meaningful and substantive Jewish moment, it is essential that it be based on more than a crash course of the Aliyah study. Several weeks in our Jewish identity instruction is recommended as a minimum of requisite Jewish preparation. In doing so, the future bat mitzvah apply her Jewish learning to help make the world a better place

We are happy that you are contemplating conversion to Judaism

Any non-Jew can become Jewish by converting. Once you convert, you then become a Jew in every regard and your relationship with God is at the same level as that of every other Jew

For non-Reform Judaism, the laws governing conversion (gerut) are based on codes of law and texts, including discussions in the Talmud, through the Shulkhan Arukh and subsequent interpretations. These rules are held as authoritative by Orthodox Judaism and Conservative Judaism

The requirements of Reform Judaism for conversions are different. We believe that people considering conversion must study Jewish theology, rituals, history, culture and customs, and begin incorporating Jewish practices into their lives. The length and format of the course of study varies from rabbi to rabbi and community to community, though most now require a course in basic Judaism and individual study with a rabbi, as well as attendance at services and participation in home practice and synagogue life. Reform Jews are committed to a Judaism that changes and adapts to the needs of the day

This year, Congregation Darchei Noam opened an "Introduction to Judaism" course. We require prospective converts to take a course of study in Judaism, to participate in worship at a synagogue, and to live as a Jew (according to our Rabbi’s interpretation) for a period of time, usually one year

When our Rabbi feels that the candidate is ready, a Bet Din is convened. Other rituals such as immersion in a mikvah, circumcision (or Hatafat dam brit) and a public ceremony to celebrate the conversion, are also at the discretion of the Rabbi

Converts are asked to commit to religious standards set by our local Reform community. Our synagogue is unique, with its own distinct character and culture, but all synagogues have one fundamental thing in common: they are the center for Jewish living in their community